Tennessee Lady Vol News

[HypeVol2020]

Were there any other observations? I couldn’t read this article.

(from the article)​

Lady Vols practice observations​

• Janiah Barker looked good on the court. Strong, smooth, confident going to the basket and can finish at rim level. Barker was vocal on the court and made good reads.
• Deniya Prawl doesn't look like a freshman. She moves like a veteran, going at her own speed with the ball in her hands. Prawl was controlled around the rim and definitely looks like she'll be comfortable finishing through contact.
• Ruby Whitehorn had great effort during the open practice period, making hustle plays during a drill for the press, hunting down rebounds every possession. Doesn't look like she missed a beat from her time away from the team.
• The lineup of Mia Pauldo, Kaiya Wynn, Jersey Wolfenbarger, Whitehorn and Barker dominated the full-court press drill, beating out the lineup of Boyd, Talaysia Cooper, Mya Pauldo, Alyssa Latham and Zee Spearman.

 

[Volfan2012]

I appreciate Cora's practice observations. Nice to hear Barker is doing well - I remember some saying that she was recovering from something earlier this summer and it would take some time for her to adjust and get in shape.

And nice to hear Prawl doesn't look like a freshman. I'm not surprised - she wasn't the flashiest in the McDonald's AA game but I thought she was very smooth and composed.

I think it came out later that Prawl was dealing with an injury when she played in that game.

 

[Volfan2012]

(from the article)​

Lady Vols practice observations​

• Janiah Barker looked good on the court. Strong, smooth, confident going to the basket and can finish at rim level. Barker was vocal on the court and made good reads.
• Deniya Prawl doesn't look like a freshman. She moves like a veteran, going at her own speed with the ball in her hands. Prawl was controlled around the rim and definitely looks like she'll be comfortable finishing through contact.
• Ruby Whitehorn had great effort during the open practice period, making hustle plays during a drill for the press, hunting down rebounds every possession. Doesn't look like she missed a beat from her time away from the team.
• The lineup of Mia Pauldo, Kaiya Wynn, Jersey Wolfenbarger, Whitehorn and Barker dominated the full-court press drill, beating out the lineup of Boyd, Talaysia Cooper, Mya Pauldo, Alyssa Latham and Zee Spearman.

Just seeing those two lineups shows me how strong this team looks this season. No Prawl, Civil, Hurst, or Robertson which is another four elite players.

 

[Rickster]

Just seeing those two lineups shows me how strong this team looks this season. No Prawl, Civil, Hurst, or Robertson which is another four elite players.

Kim is going to be able to field two SEC-caliber teams barring significant injuries and have quality replacements too.


FIRST FIVE?
Mia Pauldo (PG)
Kaiya Wynn (G)
Jersey Wolfenbarger (F)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Kaniya Boyd (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Mya Paldo (G)
Alyssia Latham (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Nya Robertson (G)
Lauren Hurst (W)
Jaida Civil (G)
Deniya Prawl (G)
Water Girl

or,

Mia Paldo (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

 

[jsiggy]

Kim is going to be able to field two SEC-caliber teams barring significant injuries and have quality replacements too.


FIRST FIVE?
Mia Pauldo (PG)
Kaiya Wynn (G)
Jersey Wolfenbarger (F)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Kaniya Boyd (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Mya Paldo (G)
Alyssia Latham (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Nya Robertson (G)
Lauren Hurst (W)
Jaida Civil (G)
Deniya Prawl (G)
Water Girl

or,

Mia Paldo (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

We can always speculate bout starters, we all know how she does that! But that being said, barring injury, I don't see a scenario where Cooper is not in the 1st 5??

 

[jsiggy]

I would bet that last group you put up there will be the initial 5 in game 1!?

 

[37620VOL]

I would bet that last group you put up there will be the initial 5 in game 1!?

Yes, but trading Mia for Mya and Barker for Latham

 

[HypeVol2020]

 

[VolBall09]

I think it came out later that Prawl was dealing with an injury when she played in that game.

Yeah she has trouble with a knee off and on it seems. Sometimes she wears a brace, sometimes she doesn’t. Seems chronic at this point.

 

[Rickster]

....... I don't see a scenario where Cooper is not in the 1st 5??

I think you're right. The larger point I was ineffectively trying to make is one of player selection freedom. Because she has assembled talent, Kim has many combinations to go with. Iif you are substituting every 3 minutes or so, does "starting" really mean all that much? The best players will distance themselves over time.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think you're right. The larger point I was ineffectively trying to make is one of player selection freedom. Because she has assembled talent, Kim has many combinations to go with. Iif you are substituting every 3 minutes or so, does "starting" really mean all that much? The best players will distance themselves over time.

The interesting topic after a few games will be, “The Last Line of Defense”. The crew on the floor to secure the dub.

 

[Rickster]

Interesting read.

 

[jsiggy]

I think you're right. The larger point I was ineffectively trying to make is one of player selection freedom. Because she has assembled talent, Kim has many combinations to go with. Iif you are substituting every 3 minutes or so, does "starting" really mean all that much? The best players will distance themselves over time.

True

 

[chuckiepoo]

 

[UT Challenger]

We can always speculate bout starters, we all know how she does that! But that being said, barring injury, I don't see a scenario where Cooper is not in the 1st 5??

%

 

[lvocd]

We can always speculate bout starters, we all know how she does that! But that being said, barring injury, I don't see a scenario where Cooper is not in the 1st 5??

As long as she doesn't get complacent, I agree. But you just never know about players. Every now and then really good players get a little lazy and slack off on getting into the gym to put up extra shots. Or they feel like they are so established that they don't need to hustle on every play in practice. I've seen that way too many times to count.

Hopefully NONE of our returners thinks they've arrived already and will be even more hungry this year than last. They had a really good season last season, but they have the potential to have a great season this time around.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how many more steals Cooper can get now that she's got more teammates with quick hands. Man alive, she was so much fun to watch when she was feelin' it last season!

 

[Memvol44]

Kim is going to be able to field two SEC-caliber teams barring significant injuries and have quality replacements too.


FIRST FIVE?
Mia Pauldo (PG)
Kaiya Wynn (G)
Jersey Wolfenbarger (F)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Kaniya Boyd (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Mya Paldo (G)
Alyssia Latham (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Nya Robertson (G)
Lauren Hurst (W)
Jaida Civil (G)
Deniya Prawl (G)
Water Girl

or,

Mia Paldo (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

Spearman is starting..

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Kim is going to be able to field two SEC-caliber teams barring significant injuries and have quality replacements too.


FIRST FIVE?
Mia Pauldo (PG)
Kaiya Wynn (G)
Jersey Wolfenbarger (F)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Kaniya Boyd (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Mya Paldo (G)
Alyssia Latham (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

NEXT FIVE?
Nya Robertson (G)
Lauren Hurst (W)
Jaida Civil (G)
Deniya Prawl (G)
Water Girl

or,

Mia Paldo (PG)
Talaysia Cooper (G)
Ruby Whitehorn (G)
Janiah Barker (F)
Zee Spearman (F)

Best news is Coach can design platoons for each game and still situationally rotate in players for rest, injury and fouls. Flexibility this year COULD be incredible and wear down teams that can’t match fresh bodies. Defensive interchangeability should be there way more than last year. Approaching positionless 5’s.

 

[Volfan2012]

 

[HerdLVol]

Great interview. thanks

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Great interview. thanks

Yes, baby. The FF is the floor. Look for greatness in the upcoming season. We have all the pieces. FF here we come. GBO.

 

[xtpsrh08123]

I will miss Tess, she had her flaws, but she hit timely threes better than any player in my memory of Lady Vol basketball. A lot of Lady Vol runs came on the back of Tess Darby threes.

Not better than Shanna Zolman , purest shooter in LV history imo.

 

[HerdLVol]

I will miss Tess, she had her flaws, but she hit timely threes better than any player in my memory of Lady Vol basketball. A lot of Lady Vol runs came on the back of Tess Darby threes.

Another one of those players who made vast improvements with coach Kim. And again it’s too bad she didn’t have another year to continue her improvement.

 

[VolBall09]

Not better than Shanna Zolman , purest shooter in LV history imo.

Shanna and Angie Bjorkland were the others I thought of. Two players who could really shoot the basketball. That wasn’t typically the top of Pat’s list when recruiting.

I felt like Tess’s shooting was a little like Shannon Bobbitt. Her timing just always seemed right. When we really needed a score she would knock one down.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Wow! What a spokesperson for The Program! Had no idea she knew or helped to bring Chaz to Knoxville.